Legacy Storage Emulator for Object API Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Migrating data from legacy storage systems to modern object storage systems is time-consuming and introduces unwanted load on both systems, making it inefficient to leverage modern object storage services for existing data.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that transform legacy data by determining containers and users in secondary storage, synchronizing storage configuration, enumerating objects, and adding object identifiers and metadata to an object index in primary storage, allowing seamless access without data migration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If data is migrated from legacy storage to object storage, then data can be accessed via modern object storage API, but the process is time-consuming and introduces unwanted load on both systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to legacy data via modern object storage APIVSAvoiddata migration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the legacy storage system within the object storage environment by implementing a legacy storage emulator that replicates the legacy storage interface and data structures. This allows the system to access legacy data through modern object storage APIs without physically migrating the data, thereby eliminating migration time while maintaining API compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a legacy storage emulator as an intermediary layer between the object storage system and legacy data formats. This emulator translates modern object storage operations into legacy storage operations, enabling seamless access to legacy data without requiring data migration or direct modification of the legacy storage system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If data is migrated from legacy storage to object storage, then modern object storage services can be utilized, but unwanted load is introduced on both systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveutilization of modern object storage servicesVSAvoidsystem load during migration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

By creating a virtual representation of legacy storage within the object storage system through emulation, the patent eliminates the need for physical data migration. This approach allows modern object storage services to be utilized on legacy data without introducing the energy-consuming data transfer operations that characterize traditional migration processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The legacy storage emulator serves as an intermediary that handles translation between object storage and legacy storage operations. This eliminates the need for direct data movement between systems, thereby reducing the computational load and energy consumption associated with migration while still enabling access to legacy data through modern services.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If data transformation is implemented to access legacy data via object storage API, then data migration is avoided, but storage configuration synchronization is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata migration timeVSAvoidstorage configuration synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The legacy storage emulator acts as an intermediary that automatically manages configuration synchronization between object storage and legacy storage systems. It handles the complexity of mapping object storage structures to legacy storage formats, transparently managing the synchronization requirements without exposing this complexity to users or requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10776322B2Transformation processing for objects between storage systems
Publication Date: 2020.09.15 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC
  • US10776322B2 patent drawing
  • US10776322B2 patent drawing
  • US10776322B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A computer program product, system, and method for determining containers, within a secondary storage, to transform; determining users having access to the containers to transform; synchronizing storage configuration between the secondary storage and a primary storage; enumerating objects within the containers to transform; and adding object identifiers and object metadata for the enumerated objects to an object index within the primary storage.